The Russellville City Council passed a resolution 7-1 censuring Alderman Paul Northcut during a special meeting Friday.

After opening remarks by Mayor Bill Eaton, Alderman Ron Knost explained the reason for the meeting.

“Fellow councilmen, myself and a couple other councilmen have had several calls regarding this matter, and that’s why we called this meeting — to present the following resolution, which you all have in front of you. The resolution pertains to the censureship of Alderman Northcut for inappropriate correspondence and statements which he sent to us through public emails.”

The resolution states in part the City Council and mayor “believe the personal statements contained in the email correspondence of Alderman Chaplain Paul Northcut to be inappropriate and improper conduct of an elected public official sworn to uphold the laws of the State of Arkansas and United States.”

The meeting came in the wake of a Dec. 14 email sent by Northcut to aldermen and other city officials expressing concern about the re-appointment of three members of the Planning Commission, although Northcut only mentioned Nick Patel — who later withdrew his bid for re-appointment — by name. In his email, Northcut noted “problems we have had with the Hispanic Nightclubs on S. Arkansas” and “more importantly — how close the city came to allowing a homosexual club to open in downtown Russellville (sic),” although a business permit application for the venue was withdrawn and was never considered by city officials.

“Based on the past actions of that commission I don’t have a lot of confidence in the way that they have done their job,” Northcut wrote.

Before aldermen discussed Northcut’s actions or the resolution before them, aldermen voted on a motion to restrict debate, which would limit public comments.

“I think that would be restricting the citizens’ rights, and I would be opposed to that,” Northcut said.

The motion failed 2-6, with aldermen Kevin Freeman and Ron Knost voting for the motion.

After aldermen began discussion of the resolution — which Eaton described as “an expression of discipline or reprimand” — Northcut asked about the relationship between his elected office and First Amendment rights.

“My question would be, when someone is elected to an office do they lay down their right to freedom of speech?” Northcut asked. “One of the other important freedoms ... is the freedom of religion, and the convictions that individuals hold regarding their religions are also protected. In defense of the man in question this morning, myself, my only comment was that I disagreed with the philosophical position of Nick and told him very openly that I did so. I have been as up front and candid as I know how to be. I feel very strongly that when I was elected as an alderman, I was expected to maintain my Christian beliefs.”

Northcut read a quote attributed to President George Washington, which read, “We are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To distinguish the character of a patriot, it should be our highest calling to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”

“We have come a long ways from our Christian foundation,” Northcut said. “Part of the reason we have slipped so far is because Christian people have been afraid to stand up and say ‘right is right, wrong is wrong.’”

Alderman Martin Irwin responded to Northcut, and said “the document upon which we swore an oath of office is not the quotes of the President nor the quotes of any other founder — it is the Constitution of the United States.”

“And let me just, let me make this clear. I want everybody to understand why we are here today. It is not about religion; it is not about morality; it is not about righteousness, nor good versus evil; nor is this about free speech. This is about a willful violation of the solemn oath of office taken by a public official.”

Irwin spoke about military veterans, who also swear an oath to uphold the Constitution.

“The important part of that oath was that I will uphold and protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” he said. “Domestic enemies of the Constitution are us sitting right here. Police officers, government officials, those are the people who can take your rights away from you. When you enlist in the military, you give up certain of those rights because you are an arm of the government that can do harm. The same is true of the Russellville City Council and every other body of government that we have, and that is why we are required to take an oath, and that’s why we take a solemn oath to faithfully execute the duties of this office.”

Irwin said all are entitled to their personal beliefs and opinions, but “if my opinion is inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, it may not be brought forward when discussing policy or public business. That’s why you took that oath. So you would not bring personal prejudice, personal bias or personal opinion into the arena of American government at any level when our responsibility is to fairly and equally apply the laws and represent the citizens of this nation, and part of that responsibility in protecting the Constitution is to make sure everyone is fairly and equally represented and that their Constitutional rights are protected.”

“... When you violate the public trust by willfully violating your oath of office, I think that there’s but one conclusion — and I’ve had three or four rather sleepless nights, and after a great deal of consideration, deliberation and with a heavy heart, a heavy heart, I think that the violation of your oath of office, as a matter of honor, integrity and basic human decency demands that Mr. Northcut immediately resign from office.”

Northcut questioned whether he had violated his oath of office.

“When I, as a private citizen, talk to other private citizens and express my convictions and my beliefs, not as alderman, simply as Chaplain Northcut, when I exercise my right to free speech, is that a violation of my oath of office?”

Knost responded and said the email Northcut sent was not private discourse, but was subject to public scrutiny.

After the aldermen finished their comments, members of the public were allowed to speak. Robert McCready, who is coordinator of the Russellville River Valley Tea Party, asked why the council was taking such action when Patel — who wasn’t present Friday — indicated in conversations with McCready he wanted to simply move on, without making a public display.

“You’re absolutely right,” Eaton said. “Mr. Patel did not want the controversy, however, the controversy was put upon him by this information being put in the newspaper. His family is now exposed to all of it, and it’s like closing the barn door after the horse is out. It’s a very unfortunate situation.”

When the resolution to censure Northcut was brought to vote, Northcut was the only alderman to vote against the adoption of the resolution.

Also on Friday, all eight aldermen unanimously passed a resolution affirming nondiscrimination in the city of Russellville, which stated in part, “the City Council, Mayor, Commissions, Boards and Department of the City of Russellville, Arkansas, affirm to the citizens of Russellville, Arkansas, to make no distinction in representation or protection of rights based on race, creed, color, religion, sexual orientation or gender identification.”

At the end of the meeting, Northcut said he sent a letter of apology to members of the Planning Commission, though he did not return a phone call Friday from a reporter requesting a copy of the letter.